Australian Open 2021: Serena Williams withdraws from Ashleigh Barty semi-final in tuneup event
FirstpostMelbourne: Serena Williams withdrew from an Australian Open tuneup tournament citing a right shoulder injury Friday within hours of setting up a semifinal match against top-ranked Ash Barty. The 23-time Grand Slam champion usually doesn’t play in a tournament in the week before a Grand Slam event, but made an exception before the US Open last year and for this Australian Open because of all the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennis has been played but not really, so … hopefully this is like a new year where things will be different.” Garbine Muguruza beat defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals, reversing their result of their 2020 final at Melbourne Park. Azarenka advances Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka beat Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 1-6, 11-9 to advance at the Grampians Trophy, an event staged for the players forced into hard lockdown during quarantine.